“Old field”, “regularity” and “of blessed memory” defender of the Cossacks: justice and antiquity as values in the movements of the Don Cossacks of the 17th - 18th centuries

Introduction. During the period of transition from freedom and independence during the time of the Moscow state, the Don Cossacks experienced the process of their formation as a military estate of the Russian Empire and constantly fought for justice in relations with the Russian authorities. This is how the transition to the status of the service class of the Russian Empire took place. Justice found the realization through an attitude towards antiquity, which was recognized as corresponding to justice, and to novelty, which was perceived as a violation of justice, but over time, it became a new tradition that corresponded to ideas of justice.